Ventilator for storm windows



June 26, 1956 B. M. MOORE VENTILATOR FOR STORM WINDOWS Filed Aug. 25, 1952 INVENTOR. B 611, M. .zilaore, Y

ATTORNEY United States Patent F VENTILATOR FOR STORM WINDOWS Ben M. Moore, Nashville, Tenn.

Application August 25, 1952, Serial No. 306,175

4 Claims. (Cl. 98.-96)

This invention relatesto a ventilator for storm windows or similar sash.

More specifically this invention contemplatesv providing a relatively thin panel-like ventilator which can be easily substituted for a portion of the pane of a storm window either during manufacture or subsequent toinstallation.

With the ever-increasing weather-tightness of dwellingconstruction and with the marked increase in use of storm windows for comfort and heating economy (especially where electric heat is used) there has arisen a great need for a ventilator for storm windows, or other sash, which is eifective, safe, easy to operate, inexpensive and esthetically pleasing.

The ventilating arrangements of the prior art are primarily devices for holding the storm window with its bottom edge swung out away from its normal position a distance of several inches to a foot. Such an arrangement is highly unsatisfactory for many reasons: its ventilating eifect would greatly vary with every change in the direction and/ or velocity of the wind; driving rain would get behind such a tilted window; there would be danger of the window becoming unhung and broken or even possibly injuring a passerby; with such an arrangement there would be no exclusion of insects, rodents and other pests; and a tilted-open window would be an obvious invitation to burglary.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a panel-like ventilator insertable into the pane-area of a conventional window without any redesign of the window frame.

It is another object to provide a ventilator which is highly effective in excluding driving rain, insects, rodents and burglars.

It is another object to produce a storm-window ventilator which is easy to install and operate, durable, esthetically pleasing, yet inexpensive.

Another object is to provide a ventilator which would make it possible and desirable to keep the storm windows installed the year-around. Where an exhaust fan is installed, the ventilator will admit suflicient air and at a desired level in the room; and the extra window will greatly reduce inward heat-flow during the heat of the day.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following detailed description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification and in which the same reference characters refer to like parts thruout the several views:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, from within a dwelling, of a typical installation of the ventilator in a conventional storm window.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the structure of the lower left portion of Fig. 1, partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, but showing the outside or weather-side of the lower right portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

2,751,839 Patented June 26, 1 956 Fig. 5 is a further enlarged detailed view of the upper charmel member of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a further enlarged detailed view of the lower channel member of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view, similar to that of-Fig. 6, showing a modified construction of the lower channel member.

With reference now to the drawings, the numeral 1v generally designates a conventional wood-framed. storm sash, consisting of the usual vertical rails 3 and 5,. top; rail 7, central or divider rail 9 and bottom rail 11. As shown in Fig. 1, these rails define upper and lower frames forreceiving panes of glass 13' and 15, the lower one of which is either initially or subsequently shortened to permit insertion of the ventilator forming the subject matter of this invention. As shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 7, the upper and lower frames'have rabbeted seats 13 of conventional construction.

While the ventilator herein described may belocated at the top or bottom of either or both panes, or at any point in a single-pane storm or other window, for purpose of illustration it is shown installed so as to occupy the lower third of the lower frame. The ventilator is so designed that it may be easily installed in existing storm windows by merely unputtying and cutting out a strip of glass of the size and shape of the ventilator. Its principal use, however, will be its incorporation during manufacture into new windows, where the saving on the cost of the pane of glass will largely offset the cost of the ventilator.

The ventilator (generally designated as 21) consists of two relatively movable panels of sheet material, which is preferably metal but may be plastic, wood, glass, etc. In the disclosed form of the invention the inner panel 23 is the stationary one. This panel 23 is preferably die-cut from sheet metal into its final form, including the cut-out ventilating openings 25 but not the bent-over edges. The outer panel 27 is the movable one and has mating openings 2!! (Fig. 2) for registering with openings 25 in the inner panel 23. It should be noted that the openings 25 and 29 are slightly narrower than the vertical strips they define, so that in the Fig. 3 positions of the panels the openings in each panel are completely covered by the strips of the other panel, to close the ventilator.

The outer panel is made adjustable from the inside of the window by means of a knob 31 carried on the inner end of a screw 33 welded or soldered to the outer panel 27. Preferably interposed between the panels 23 and 27 is a strip of insectand rodent-excluding wire screen 35, which may be attached to either panel, but which may be conveniently fastened to panel 27 by being clamped thereto by the overturned edges 37, which also form the slide elements for the guides to be described later. A transverse slot 39 in the panel 23 accommodates the screw 33 and is of such length that it serves to stop movement of the outer panel at the ends of its fully opening and fully closing movements.

As shown in Fig. 5 the upper end of the panel 23 is inwardly offset at 41 so as to place the inner faces of the panel and the pane 15 approximately in the same plane. Ofi'set portion 41 is bent outwardly and downwardly to embrace and hold the vertical flange 43 of a guide-channelforming angle member 45, which serves also as the bottom of the rabbet-like channel in which the lower edge of the pane 15 is received and held by putty 47. If desired, cement or putty may be added on the inside at 51, to improve the strength and weather-tightness of the joint. The angle member 47 extends under the bottom edge of pane 15 and then downwardly to form a guide channel between itself and panel 23 for snugly receiving the overturned edge of the movable outer panel 27, as shown.

The lower guide channel is similarly formed by an angle member 53, which is narrower than part 45 due to the absence. ofthe oflset; -Its downwardly extending flange 55 is elampedand. held by upturned edge,.5L.Qf,.panel 2,r

against which putty SS is placed to fasten the ventilator in place.

In themodification of Fig. 7, the anglelmeniber fifi is formed integrally with the panel 23. The, upper ,edge vof panel 23 could be formed so as toinclude.anglelmeinber 45 as an integral part thereof, if .thenecessaryrnachinery for the operation is available.

-The disclosed ventilator is equallywell adapted forincorporation into existing windows, or new windows during manufacture. To install in oldwindows, it is, merely necessary toun-putty the lower portion of the lowerpane,

.cut and break-out a strip of glass. the size of the ventilator,

insert theventilator, and then re-puttys While I have disclosed a preferred formin which my in- 'vention can be reducedto practice,.it is to be understood that many changes can be made in the siz'e;-1shapel and composition of .the parts without departing from thes'pirit of the invention, as defined'by the subjoinedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A ventilator for storm windows or thelike, compris- I ing: a 'fixed horizontally elongated vertically disposable sheet-material panel having a plurality of ventilating openings therein: a slide panel of sheet material overlying and substantially co-extensive with said fixedpanel and having ventilating openings therein of such sizes and positions as itoiregisterwith the openings in said fixed panel in:ojne

relatively adjustable position of said panels, ,and to be .out of registry therewith in another position -thereof;;an

upper strip of sheet material having its central; portion overlying the upper edges of said panels proper, having an 4 inner upturned flange attached to an extension of said fixed p n l. andimm g grai s-en a n .St theteuitb and having an outer downturned flange forming with said fixed panel a guide channel for said movable panel, the top of said central portion constituting a ledge for receiving the lewer edge of said pane and a bridging and sealing putty wedge between itself and the lower outer face of said pane, and a lower strip of sheet material having a horizontal central portion underlying and supporting said movable panel, having an upturned flange forming with said fixed panel a guide channel for said movable panel, having a downturned flange connected to said fixed panel to constitute therewith an anchorage strip adapted to seat vertically against the paneseat of thewindow frame, and being of a thickness'and height'permitting a retaining and sealing bridging putty wedge to be formed between itself and the outer edge of said seat, whereby said ventilator can be installed during or after window fabrication.

2. A ventilator accordingtoclaim l and additionally comprising insect-excluding open-mesh closure means for said ventilating openings.

, 3. A ventilator according to claim 2 and ,in which said closure means comprises a woven-wire screenpanelfastened to said movable panel by folded-over edge portions of the latter panel. V

4. A ventilator according to claim 3 and in which said screen panel lies between said fixed and movable panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,624,263 Klein Jan, 6,11953 

